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These kids coming out of college rely on those signing bonuses to get them through the early part of their contracts until the game checks start kicking in. I imagine he did enough previously to make them comfortable in allowing him to have some or all of his bonus.

May 09, 2012 8:39 p.m. - by Chuck Finder Second-round OT Mike Adams reached a four-year deal with the Steelers worth a little more than $3.5 million, with slightly more than $1 million in a signing bonus, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. Initially, broadcast reports said Adams agreed to give up a signing bonus as part of his penance for lying to team officials about his marijuana use, but those were inaccurate.

When Steelers offensive tackle Mike Adams signed his contract Wednesday, the second-round pick received a $1.01 million signing bonus.

There had been speculation that Adams would defer a signing bonus to show he could remain drug-free. Adams reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine in February.

The reason why the Steelers put Adams back on their draft board wasn't an offer to defer a bonus. The team considered him again after he showed how much he wanted to wear the Black and Gold.

By now, everyone knows the story of how Adams requested a face-to-face, pre-draft meeting with general manager Kevin Colbert, Art Rooney II and coach Mike Tomlin to explain himself. He then had to meet certain stipulations which included counseling.

Adams grew up in Farrell, Pa., about 70 miles north of Heinz Field. How much of a Steelers fan was Adams growing up? According to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, he had Steelers sheets on his bed and a Jerome Bettis clock on the wall of his bedroom.

It's now up to Adams to make sure there is a happy ending to his childhood dreams coming true. He has a chance to become the team's starting left tackle this season, but that's not his priority at this point.

“I think step one is proving myself off the field because that’s where my issues have been,” Adams told the Tribune-Review at rookie minicamp. “I haven’t had any issues on the field. To prove myself to the people in this organization, the people in this city, that’s what I’m here for.”